Panama’s economy continued to boom in 2012. Driven by substantial government expenditures and foreign direct investments in infrastructure projects, GDP was expected to reach 9.5%, the fastest rate of growth for any Latin American country. At $16.3 billion, the 2013 national budget would be the highest in Panama’s history. One problem facing the economy, however, was increasing inflation. High oil prices fueled a 13.6% increase in transportation costs. The cost of food and beverages rose 6.1%, and goods and services climbed 7.8%.

A protest in Colón, Pan., over a government plan to sell off land in the city’s free-trade …

Arnulfo Franco/AP

On the other hand, Pres. Ricardo Martinelli’s approval ratings continued to fall in 2012 as a result of several serious corruption scandals and ongoing confrontations with indigenous groups, labour unions, and the political opposition. Indigenous groups and labour unions engaged in significant protests throughout the year against government policies aimed at further privatizing the economy. In October demonstrations turned violent as labour unions opposed a plan to sell government land in the Colón Free Trade Zone. Amateur video showed gun-wielding police confronting protesters. At least two people, including a child, were killed in the melee. Later in the month, responding to the protests, the legislature rescinded the law that would have enabled the sale of the land. Earlier in the year members of the Ngöbe Buglé (Guaymí) people had shut down the Pan-American Highway as part of a weeklong protest against government plans to award additional concessions to multinational mining corporations.

The rift that led to the breakup of the governing coalition in 2011 deepened in 2012 as relations between the president and vice president further deteriorated. President Martinelli filed suit against the vice president, claiming that his former ally had slandered him by accusing the administration of corruption. The allegations stemmed from a bribery scandal linked to an Italian company’s attempt to pay substantial kickbacks to Panamanian government officials in exchange for lucrative government contracts. Martinelli vehemently denied the accusations.

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